Free An Amish Christmas by Patricia Davids

“I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Sutter. I guess Karen has told you why I’m here.”
    Elam’s grip was strong and firm. “She has. I do not know your face, John Doe. I wish I could be more help.”
    “Thank you. I’m sorry we interrupted your work.”
    The sound of the front door closing made them all look toward the house. Katie came out wrapping a black shawl around her shoulders. John happened to glance at Elam’s face. The soft smile and the glow in the Amishman’s eyes told John this was a love match. When Katie reached them, Elam slipped an arm around her waist to block the cold.
    She said to John, “Are you sure you won’t come in for a while? We have hot apple pie and coffee if you’d like.”
    “No, but thank you. Congratulations on your engagement.”
    “ Danki, ” Katie blushed sweetly as she gazed at Elamwith adoring eyes. John wondered if a woman had ever looked at him that way.
    After bidding the couple farewell, John followed Karen to the buggy. He relinquished the reins to her, knowing his headache wouldn’t let him keep his mind on the road. They were getting ready to leave when Nettie came racing out of the house carrying a large basket covered with a checkered cloth.
    Breathlessly, she reached them and handed the basket to Karen. “This is for you and your family. A couple of my peach pies because I know Eli likes them best. How is he doing?”
    Karen accepted the basket. “He gets his cast off next week, but he must still wear a brace and sling. He is chaffing at the bit to get back to work.”
    “Has feeling returned to his hand?”
    “Some, but he has no strength in it.”
    “The poor man. He’s coming to the wedding, isn’t he?” A faint crease of worry appeared between Nettie’s brows.
    “He would not miss it,” Karen assured her.
    Relief smoothed away Nettie’s frown. “That is goot. And you, Mr. Doe, you are welcome to come to the wedding dinner. There will be plenty of food and there will be other English there, too,” she added with a bright smile.
    “Thank you. That is very kind.” He tried to be noncommittal. Attending the wedding of someone he barely knew seemed presumptuous.
    Nettie fixed her gaze on Karen. “Tell your father…tell him I think about him often. When this wedding fuss is over you must all come for Sunday dinner.”
    “We will look forward to it.”
    John closed his eyes and rubbed his brow as Karendrove Molly back to the highway. The jolting and creaking of the buggy added nausea to his discomfort.
    Karen pulled Molly to a halt when they reached the end of the Sutters’ lane. “Do you still wish to go into Hope Springs?”
    What he wanted was to lie down somewhere dark and quiet and let his mind travel back to that green, hot place and stay there until he saw the face of the woman who had been with him. As much as he wanted to do that, he knew he couldn’t stop now. “Let’s keep going. I want to see as many people as I can today.”
     
    Karen studied John with deep concern. His color was pale, his eyes sunken with pain. He looked as if he might topple out of the buggy at any second. He kept one hand pressed to his forehead in an attempt to block the light from his eyes.
    When she didn’t start Molly moving, he glanced at her. “What’s wrong? I said let’s go into town.”
    She let out a sigh. “ Nee, we are going home. You have done too much today. You are in pain and you need rest.”
    He sat up straight to hide his weakness. “I’m fine. It’s just a headache.”
    “Men! Always trying to show how tough they are. Anyone with eyes in their head can see you are done in. We will go home now and that is the end of it. Tomorrow will be here soon enough.”
    “I’ll be okay,” he insisted.
    “ Ja. When you have had a rest I’m sure you will be fine.” Clicking her tongue, she urged Molly onto the highway and sent her trotting briskly toward their farm.
    “Are you always this domineering?”
    He had no idea how tough she could